Izmir Shore Excursion: Day Trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary
Traveler rating
4.6/5
Based on 19 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Izmir Shore Excursion: Day Trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary worth booking?
Izmir Shore Excursion: Day Trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary is a 6-hour experience in Selçuk, Turkey, from $95 per person. It scores 56 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.6/5 rating across 19 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 56 / 100
- Rating
- 4.6/5 (19)
- Duration
- 6 hours
- From
- $95 per person
When you're in port in Izmir, don’t miss exploring the ancient ruins of Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean. This Turkey shore excursion also includes a visit to the House of the Virgi
What you get
About this experience
When you're in port in Izmir, don’t miss exploring the ancient ruins of Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean. This Turkey shore excursion also includes a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, where Mary spent her final days.
What's included
Included
- Cruise port pickup and drop off
- Local guide
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Worry-Free Shore Excursion Guarantee
Not included
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Izmir
Your Izmir shore excursion starts as you make your way from the Izmir cruise port to Ephesus, stopping along the way at St Johns Basilica, built in honor of the saint, who wrote his gospel atop Ayasuluk Hill where the basilica is located. See the 4th-century tomb where his remains are said to be housed.
15 minutes here
Ephesus Ancient City
Continue to the ancient city of Ephesus, an important center for early Christianity. In the Book of Revelation, Ephesus was one of the seven churches addressed by Christ in a vision. It is here that you will find the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Your guide will also show you the Great Theatre, the Library of Celsus and many other temples during your Ephesus tour.
120 minutes here · Admission included
The House of the Virgin Mary
Enjoy a lunch of authentic Turkish cuisine, and then visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where she spent the last days of her life. Authenticated by Pope Paul VI in 1967, St Mary’s house is a place of pilgrimage for many believers.
90 minutes here · Admission included
The Odeion
Ancient Theatre
30 minutes here · Admission included
The Temple of Artemis
Temple of Artemis
15 minutes here
Efes Antik Kenti Tiyatrosu
Ancient Grand Theatre
30 minutes here · Admission included
Selcuk
Selcuk
Pass by without stopping
Izmir
Worry-free Shore Excursion: We will ensure your timely return to the Izmir port for this activity. In the rare event your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of-call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.
45 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 45 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
Izmir Shore Excursion: Day Trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary
Pickup included
Full day Guide and Driver
Including only Guide & driver: Entrance fees are not included. Valid within Izmir city limits and for Ephesus. Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Neon Tours
Know before you go
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- In the event of any museum closures, an alternative similar museum will be visited
- At time of booking, Cruise Ship passengers must provide the following details under Special Requirements: Ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Not recommended for children aged 4 and under
- Children 18 years and under must be accompanied by an adult
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 19 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
10 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Food and drink
7 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Small groups
2 mentionsThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Traveler reviews
19 verified traveler reviews for Izmir Shore Excursion: Day Trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Exceptional Tour Guide
A wonderful tour of Ephesus and St Mary's house. Elif is an excellent tour guide who has in-depth knowledge of the history, culture and social life of Ephesus. Also my wife had an ankle ligament issue - hence Elif was very patient and took extra time not to rush the tour. We felt very comfortable and endeared by her honesty, integrity and friendliness. Thank you.
Response from the operator: Dear Guest, we are very happy to hear that you were satisfied with our service. Your feedback is very helpful to us in improving our service. We hope that your entire trip to Turkey was wonderful and that you leave our country with beautiful memories. We would be delighted to see you in our country again. Thank you.
via Tripadvisor
Amazing Ephesus tour!
I could not recommend this tour enough! We have an amazing day from start to finish. Our tour guide Zafer was phenomenal and really made sure our day was full of history and Turkish experiences. We got picked up from our hotel and ended up having a private tour just ourselves and Zafer. if you are looking for a tour which is great value for money and filled with amazing experiences including visiting Ephesus, Virgin Mary’s house, learning about the production of local Turkish carpets, authentic Turkish lunch and much more you should book this now. I will definitely use this company again and contact Zafer Bozoglu at +30 542 2676081 for any other future tours!
Response from the operator: Dear Guest, we are very happy to hear that you were satisfied with our service. Your feedback is very helpful to us in improving our service. We hope that your entire trip to Turkey was wonderful and that you leave our country with beautiful memories. We would be delighted to see you in our country again. Thank you.
via Tripadvisor
The Tour guide spoke good English...
<p>The Tour guide spoke good English , was at the port on time and very professional . Would highly recommend it . The only thing is the a/c on the bus was not working well .</p>
via Viator
This excursion was amazing. Visiting...
<p>This excursion was amazing. Visiting Ephesus wouldn't have been the same without our tour guide. She was able to give us so many insider bits that would have been overlooked otherwise. The lunch at the rug making school was incredible. Simply the best meal of our entire trip. The only negative would be after we watched the women work they took us into a room to sell us a rug. Showed us one for $450. My husband and I were really interested in purchasing one so one man took us to a back room showed us the one I was interested in and turned out to be $5000. Clearly out of our budget and not wanting to negotiate due to the simple fact that the rug was completely worth the money just out of our budget. So we tried to leave. The man kept trying to negotiate with us and wouldn't let us leave. Then he started getting hostile asking me why I was being so difficult etc. this put a slight damper on the whole experience, but as we were 1 of 3 other couples in the group it only happened to us so I'd assume this isn't common. Everything we saw made us want to go back. I'd definitely recommend this trip.</p>
via Viator
The Tour was excellent. The House of...
<p>The Tour was excellent. The House of the Virgin Mary was impressive and Ephesus' ruins are really majestic. The guide was excellent in both places and very respectul of the first place, as she was not Catholic.<br/> Forcing the tourists to go to the rugs' factory is of very poor taste. Even though it is called "voluntary" you are forced to go, hear the explanation and resist the factory's employees pressure to buy a rug.</p>
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 6 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $95 to $145
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 7
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Neon Tours, who run 17 experiences we rank across 5 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 53.3.
See everything Neon Tours runsWhy this scores 56
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Izmir Shore Excursion: Day Trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Selçuk.
How much does Izmir Shore Excursion: Day Trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary cost?
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Prices start at $95 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Selçuk usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Izmir Shore Excursion: Day Trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary take?
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Plan for about 6 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Selçuk is not rushed.
Is Izmir Shore Excursion: Day Trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 56 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.6/5 across 19 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Selçuk, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Izmir Shore Excursion: Day Trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Izmir Shore Excursion: Day Trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 6-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Izmir Shore Excursion: Day Trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary?
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Around 7 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Selçuk can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Selçuk and add a light layer if any part of the 6-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Izmir Shore Excursion: Day Trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Selçuk within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Selçuk?
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On Outty we rank every Selçuk experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR FOR CRUISERS: On-time Return and Skip-Line, FOR CRUISERS: Skip The Lines PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR &On Time Return, PRIVATE TOUR FOR CRUISERS: Mary's House (Meryemana) and Ephesus. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Selçuk?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Selçuk?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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